David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod,” and Abiathar brought it to him. 8 David asked the Lord, “Shall I go after those raiders? And will I catch them?”
He answered, “Go after them; you will catch them and rescue the captives.”
How long had it been since David consulted God last? May I remain ever close to you, Father – even in a foreign land.
…David attacked …and… rescued everyone and everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives; nothing at all was missing.
A bit like Abram (Genesis 14:15-16).
When David returned to Ziklag, he sent part of the loot to his friends, the leaders of Judah… He sent it to all the places where he and his men had roamed.
Shoring up his base of support… Also a thank you – may I one day be able to do the same, Lord.
The Philistines fought a battle against the Israelites on Mount Gilboa. Many Israelites were killed there, and the rest of them, including King Saul and his sons, fled. But the Philistines caught up with them and killed three of Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
Jonathan was a terrible loss. Things could have been so much different (1 Samuel 23:16-17). But it was not to be…
…Saul, his three sons, and …all of Saul’s men died that day. When the Israelites on the other side of Jezreel Valley and east of the Jordan River heard that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had been killed, they abandoned their towns and fled. Then the Philistines came and occupied the towns.
No more celebrations (1 Samuel 11:15). A “detour” (Exodus 13:17-18) prior to David for communicating a principle (1 Samuel 16:7) – a very expensive lesson indeed. Saul fought fiercely all his life (1 Samuel 14:52) – but to what end? And me (Psalm 127:1-2)? You have wonderfully provided for me, Father, and I am grateful. That said, I feel like my life has been spent just wasting punches (1 Corinthiens 9:26).
The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa. They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers with them throughout Philistia to tell the good news to their idols and to their people. Then they put his weapons in the temple of the goddess Astarte, and they nailed his body to the wall of the city of Beth Shan.
One might be lead to believe that the Philistines were displeased with Saul… It’s interesting that the book ends much like it begins: Saul’s weapons here, the Ark of the Covenant there in 1 Samuel 5:1-2 – both imprisoned in the temple of foreign gods. Victories for a day. Thank you, Jesus, that your victory was complete and for all time (Colosians 2:13-15).